Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 16: Giovani Bernard comes back home
Giovani Bernard and the Bengals were shut down a bit until the fourth quarter against the Steelers. Does a friendlier matchup at home against the Vikings make Bernard a strong play in fantasy?
There were not many positives for the Bengals on Sunday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their offense had some issues moving the ball in the first half, and a huge deficit made them one dimensional. The lack of a running game really hurt running back Giovani Bernard's overall production.
The rookie had just 33 rushing yard and one score to go with two receptions for 13 yards. The combined 46 yards was his lowest total since Oct. 27. On the positive side, he is getting a solid workload and has touched the ball at least 14 times in each of his last five games.
The Bengals get a matchup on the other end of the spectrum this week as they will host the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are 30th in points allowed and running backs have been running wild on them for most of the season. They are the fifth-best matchup for Bernard, but it has a little to do with backs catching balls out of the backfield. The Vikings have allowed the most passing touchdowns on the season, so that works with Gio's skill set, as well.
Fantasy impact: He serves as a must-start option in PPR leagues, and fantasy owners in standard leagues should get him in their lineup as a top-20 play. There will be a lot of points to go around.
• Week 15 fantasy football position rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
